InfoQuest Liberia has expressed its profound dismay and growing alarm over the current state of affairs in the country mainly under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the Acting Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia, Ezekiel Allen said ten months into President Boakai’s tenure,InfoQuest observed the stark disparity between campaign promises and tangible actions which has become increasingly apparent thus casting a long shadow over the future of Liberian governance.
Mr. Allen told journalists that the administration, which rode to power on a platform of anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, and a departure from “business as usual,” has thus far failed to demonstrate the decisive leadership and transformative governance that Liberians were promised and rightfully deserve.
On the contrary, he stated that InfoQuest sees what he describes as a troubling pattern of behavior that has emerged, characterized by alledged lack of transparency, and mounting allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government.
He used the occasion to unequivocally call upon President Boakai to take immediate and decisive action to rectify these issues and restore faith in his administration’s commitment to good governance.
“This must include implementing and enforcing a stringent asset declaration policy for all government officials, launching thorough and independent investigations into all allegations of corruption and ethical breaches, publishing all commissioned reports in full to ensure transparency and public access to information, taking swift and visible disciplinary action against officials found to have engaged in misconduct, and implementing strict guidelines on government travel and expenditure to curb wasteful spending”, he re-emphasized.
According to him, The time for platitudes and empty promises has long since passed. Liberia he stressed stands at a critical juncture, and the actions or inactions of the current administration will determine whether the country progresses towards a future of accountability and good governance or regresses into a morass of corruption and mismanagement.
InfoQuest at the same time reaffirms its unwavering commitment to holding the government accountable and advocating for the rights and interests of all Liberians.
” We also call upon all citizens, civil society organizations, and international partners to join us in demanding better from our elected leaders. The future of Liberia hangs in the balance, and it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that the promise of good governance is not squandered. Liberia deserves and must demand concrete action and genuine reform”, he reechoed.
The Acting InfoQuest Boss further indicated that the path forward must be paved with integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the Liberian people.
He pointed out that President Boakai’s ten international trips within his first ten months in office raise serious questions about priorities and the judicious use of state resources, particularly in a country grappling with significant economic challenges.
“This frequent absence from the country not only incurs substantial costs but also raises doubts about the President’s commitment to addressing pressing domestic issues. Compounding these concerns is the brazen refusal of government officials to declare their assets, a basic tenet of a transparent government which President Boakai promised the Liberian people”, he said.
This lack of financial disclosure not only contravenes principles of accountability but also fuels suspicions of illicit enrichment among public servants, he noted.
He believes that the integrity of the administration has been further compromised by serious corruption allegations leveled against the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester Grigsby a key figure in the government.
“We believe that the fact that these allegations remain unaddressed sends a troubling message about the administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption, even when it touches the highest echelons of power”, he noted.
At the same time, The procurement process for “yellow machines” has been shrouded in controversy, with a conspicuous lack of transparency in the selection and acquisition process. This opacity in government procurement not only raises red flags about potential malfeasance but also undermines public trust in the government’s ability to manage resources effectively”, he said.
Similarly, he stated that the suppression of critical reports, such as those concerning the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), represents a significant step backward in terms of governmental transparency. By withholding these reports, the administration denies citizens their fundamental right to information about the workings of their government and the challenges facing their society.
The admittance by the Minister of Public Works, Roland Giddings of receiving a vehicle from a contractor hired by the ministry is a clear and egregious breach of ethical standards, representing a conflict of interest that should be intolerable in any administration committed to integrity in public service, he added.
He pointed out that such incident, coupled with the purchase of a $96,000 vehicle for the commerce minister (leading to his resignation), exemplifies the very waste of public resources and ethical lapses that the administration vowed to eliminate.
“These actions not only squander limited public funds but also send a message that personal comfort and luxury take precedence over the needs of the Liberian people”, he noted.
Most alarmingly, in the face of these numerous and serious infractions, President Boakai, Allen claimed has consistently demonstrated a reluctance to take decisive action or hold officials accountable for their misconduct.
This pattern, he said of inaction not only emboldens wrongdoers but also erodes public trust in the government’s commitment to its stated principles.
The President’s alledged failure to reprimand or remove officials implicated in wrongdoing suggests either a troubling indifference to corruption or a lack of political will to confront entrenched interests within his administration, Mr. Allen stated.
According to him, The cumulative effect of these issues paints a picture of an administration that, despite its promises, appears to be perpetuating the very practices it criticized in its predecessors.
He named, The lack of asset declarations, the misuse of public resources, the suppression of information, and the failure to address corruption allegations all point to a government that is falling short of its commitments to the Liberian people, he re-emphasized.
This situation is particularly disheartening given the hope and expectations that accompanied President Boakai’s election. In light of these grave and troubling concerns, he concluded.
